Manchego Cheese

Manchego is, without a doubt, the most famous cheese in Spain. It has been consumed since time immemorial throughout the region of La Mancha. This has made it possible today for an important cheese industry to develop, which maintains handcrafted production of the cheese

Manchego Cheese is an oily cheese, made exclusively from raw or pasteurised Manchega breed sheep's milk. Its shape is cylindrical. The rind, yellow or dark brown in colour, displays, on the sides, the characteristic design of the esparto creases and, on the top and bottom, the so-called 'flower' or mark made by the wooden press slats. Its texture is compact, dense and oily, its colour varies between white and yellowish-ivory, and its flavour is intense, peculiar and slightly salty. It has had a Denomination of Origin since 1991 and each cheese must be identified on one of its flat sides with a numbered casein plaque.

Origin

La Mancha, the region that produces this cheese protected by the Denomination of Origin, is the largest natural region in Spain. Located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula it covers the provinces of Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Toledo and Albacete. It is a plateau region, with an average altitude of 600 metres, where there is a wide variety of native plant life that serves as feed for the livestock. To make the cheese, the Control Board only approves milk from the Manchega breed of sheep.

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The 'De Lujo' Gift Box with Serrano Ham:A whole Serrano ham is the centerpiece of this deluxe collection. Artisan aged Manchego cheese in a wood box and fine wines make for a wonderful party or a perfect gift for that special occasion.

Castilla-La Mancha recipes: Located almost in the centre of mainland Spain, Castilla la Mancha and its cuisine is a very appreciated discovery for the traveller. The cuisine of this region is comprised of a great variety of traditional, hearty yet simple dishes which are prepared using elementary ingredients such as bread, meat, vegetables and accompanied by a wide range of wine, sheep's cheese and desserts, transporting the diner back to the era of Don Quixote and his faithful Sancho.

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